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Eco-news archive: March-April 2006
The great betrayal: Pro-hunting Japanese
seize control of whaling commission
(Apr 17, 2006)
The environmental movement is facing one of its biggest-ever reverses,
over one of its most cherished causes: Save The Whale. In a remarkable
diplomatic coup, Japan, the leading pro-whaling nation, is poised
to seize control of whaling's regulatory body, the International
Whaling Commission (IWC), and so hasten the return of commercial
whale hunting, which has been officially banned worldwide for
the past 20 years.
Read
more. Source: Independent |
Diversity of species faces 'catastrophe'
from climate change
(Apr 11, 2006)
Tens of thousands of animals and plants could become extinct within
the coming decades as a direct result of global warming. This
is the main conclusion of a study into how climate change will
affect the diversity of species in the most precious wildlife
havens of the world. Scientists believe that if atmospheric levels
of carbon dioxide double from pre-industrial times - which is
expected by the end of the century - then biodiversity will be
devastated.
Read
more. Source: Independent |
Air trends 'amplifying' warming
(Apr 7, 2006)
Reduced air pollution and increased water evaporation appear to
be adding to man-made global warming. Research presented at a
major European science meeting adds to other evidence that cleaner
air is letting more solar energy through to the Earth's surface.
Other studies show that increased water vapour in the atmosphere
is reinforcing the impact of man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Melting glaciers in the Alps
(Apr 4, 2006)
Europe's Alps could lose three-quarters of their glaciers to climate
change during the coming century. That is the conclusion of new
research from the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) in Zurich.
Scientists base their conclusion on forecasts of temperature and
precipitation changes in a new computer model of Alpine glaciation.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Glacial earthquakes rock Greenland ice
sheet
(Mar 24, 2006)
A rapid increase in "glacial earthquakes" – caused by sudden
large movements of glaciers – over the past few years indicates
that warmer temperatures will destroy the Greenland ice sheet
faster than expected, a new study warns. Surface meltwater is
not dribbling away, as if from a giant ice block melting slowly,
but is seeping through cracks to the bottom of the glacier. Once
there it forms a layer that "helps lift the glacier up from the
rock" so it flows faster to the sea, says seismologist Göran Ekström
at Harvard University, who led the study.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Humans fuel worst extinction since end
of dinosaurs
(Mar 22, 2006)
Changes to Earth's biodiversity have occurred more rapidly in
the past 50 years than at any time in human history, creating
a species loss greater than anything since a major asteroid impact
wiped out the dinosaurs. That's the conclusion of Global Biodiversity
Outlook 2, a report released today by the United Nation's Convention
on Biological Diversity.
Read
more. Source: LiveScience.com |
Warming seas cause stronger hurricanes
(Mar 17, 2006)
Warmer ocean waters are indeed a key factor in creating more devastating
hurricanes, atmospheric scientists have found. The finding confirms
what many have suspected: that rising temperatures are directly
linked to the upswing in hurricane intensity seen in the past
few decades. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology
in Atlanta examined data for a range of climate variables thought
to contribute to the formation of hurricanes in categories 4 and
5, the upper end of the strength scale. Only sea surface temperature
showed a strong correlation with the observed increase in the
occurrence of these storms since 1970.
Read
more. Source: Nature |
Climate change 'irreversible' as Arctic
sea ice fails to re-form
(Mar 14, 2006)
Sea ice in the Arctic has failed to re-form for the second consecutive
winter, raising fears that global warming may have tipped the
polar regions in to irreversible climate change far sooner than
predicted. Satellite measurements of the area of the Arctic covered
by sea ice show that for every month this winter, the ice failed
to return even to its long-term average rate of decline. It is
the second consecutive winter that the sea ice has not managed
to re-form enough to compensate for the unprecedented melting
seen during the past few summers.
Read
more. Source: Independent |
Sharp rise in CO2 levels recorded
(Mar 14, 2006)
US climate scientists have recorded a significant rise in the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pushing it
to a new record level. BBC News has learned the latest data shows
CO2 levels now stand at 381 parts per million (ppm) - 100ppm above
the pre-industrial average. The research indicates that 2005 saw
one of the largest increases on record - a rise of 2.6ppm. The
figures are seen as a benchmark for climate scientists around
the globe.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Death of the world's rivers
(Mar 12, 2006)
The world's great rivers are drying up at an alarming rate, with
devastating consequences for humanity, animals and the future
of the planet. The Independent on Sunday can today reveal that
more than half the world's 500 mightiest rivers have been seriously
depleted. Some have been reduced to a trickle in what the United
Nations will this week warn is a "disaster in the making".
Read
more. Source: Independent |
Carbon burial plan for North Sea
(Mar 9, 2006)
British and Norwegian oil companies have announced plans to bury
carbon dioxide under the bed of the North Sea. Statoil and Shell
plan to take CO2 from a power station in Norway and pipe it to
an oil field, where it will be used to force oil to the surface.
The $1.2bn-1.5bn scheme will require major investment from governments.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Stopping the next extinction wave
(Mar 7, 2006)
Conservationists are being urged to focus on prevention rather
than cure. A scientific study pinpoints 20 areas in the world
where animals are not at immediate risk of extinction, but where
the risk is likely to arise soon. The regions include Greenland
and the Siberian tundra, Caribbean islands and parts of South
East Asia.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Antarctica losing ice to oceans
(Mar 3, 2006)
A new space-based study of Antarctica shows its ice sheet is shrinking.
Researchers used satellites to plot changes in the Earth's gravity
in the Antarctic during the period 2002-2005. Writing in the journal
Science, they conclude that the continent is losing 152 cubic
km of ice each year, with most loss in the west.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
PNG rainforest 'in grave danger'
(Mar 1, 2006)
The natural forests of Papua New Guinea are in danger of being
wiped out because of illegal logging, according to a conservation
organisation. Forest Trends said foreign logging firms violated
laws intended to promote sustainable forestry, and the PNG government
did not enforce them. The country has one of the world's most
extensive natural rainforest ranges.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
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